Spent some time using it today... it works well, but the drive shaft to the tiller rubs the transaxle and the cross bar for the mower lift when it's raised all the way... I now know not to leave it running in the raised position, but it's hard to know how high you can safely raise it. The shaft seems to be about 1 1/2" diam. tube. Can a person run a smaller shaft on this--it would allow more clearance.

You know.... I think you just explained the heavy wear on the bottom of my transaxle.
There is a deep wear groove on the bottom and I always wondered what it came from although I never gave it a huge amount of thought. Plus I always wondered how there could possibly be enough clearance for a tiller driveshaft. I just never put two and two together.

Is there some way to fabricate a stop for the lift? Might be easier than a new shaft.

I'm looking into that... problem is, I'd like to be able to raise it as high as possible so the tiller doesn't drag when I'm loading it on my trailer. The thing must weigh 300 lbs--it's too heavy to muscle up by hand.

I can understand where your coming from but there is an answer for that also and I've used it with good results. Idle the tractor down and then engage the tiller and let it push you onto the ramp with the tractor in gear. My ramps are at a pretty shallow angle and my tiller still hits once in a while and have had to do this with good results. Backing off is where it can get sticky. I have found that being a little fussy about where I unload makes the biggest difference.

Hey Utah Smitty, sure glad you are enjoying my old White GT-1650, and I sure hope you treat her right. I was sorry to see her go but now I have been able to narrow my tractors down to Case only which is neither good or bad but better for the room I have to store them. I replaced the hoses on the tiller and it works fine. I will more than likely pull it apart this winter and go through it so it's ready for spring. I mounted up the sickle bar mower and with a few minor tweaks it will go right on the 444. Have also started playing with your old 444 and might put a small diesel in it just for kicks. Good trade!!! we both got what we wanted and a road trip too, catch you later. HW

Hey Utah Smitty, sure glad you are enjoying my old White GT-1650, and I sure hope you treat her right. I was sorry to see her go but now I have been able to narrow my tractors down to Case only which is neither good or bad but better for the room I have to store them. I replaced the hoses on the tiller and it works fine. I will more than likely pull it apart this winter and go through it so it's ready for spring. I mounted up the sickle bar mower and with a few minor tweaks it will go right on the 444. Have also started playing with your old 444 and might put a small diesel in it just for kicks. Good trade!!! we both got what we wanted and a road trip too, catch you later. HW

Hey Utah Smitty, sure glad you are enjoying my old White GT-1650, and I sure hope you treat her right. I was sorry to see her go but now I have been able to narrow my tractors down to Case only which is neither good or bad but better for the room I have to store them. I replaced the hoses on the tiller and it works fine. I will more than likely pull it apart this winter and go through it so it's ready for spring. I mounted up the sickle bar mower and with a few minor tweaks it will go right on the 444. Have also started playing with your old 444 and might put a small diesel in it just for kicks. Good trade!!! we both got what we wanted and a road trip too, catch you later. HW

Good to hear from you, and welcome to GT Talk!! I'm glad you got the tiller and the sickle bar working. I have some pics of my grandson riding the White... it was the first time I let him drive by himself... he was scared, but also proud...